Posted on 03/09/2005 3:28:47 PM PST by Former Military Chick
NEW YORK (AP) -- Dan Rather, whose network reporting career spanned from the Kennedy assassination to the deadly tsunami, prepared to sign off Wednesday after 24 years as "CBS Evening News" anchorman.
Rather was the public face of the legendary news division since replacing Walter Cronkite on March 9, 1981. His first newscast included a story about English girls imitating the hairstyle of Price Charles' bride-to-be, Diana.
He's the second of the three men who dominated network news for more than two decades to step down in four months. NBC's Tom Brokaw exited in November, leaving ABC's Peter Jennings remaining at "World News Tonight."
Bob Schieffer is Rather's temporary replacement starting Thursday. CBS expects to name a permanent anchor team to succeed Rather in the coming months.
Rather, 73, is returning to full-time reporting for CBS' "60 Minutes" broadcasts.
His exit comes at a low ebb for his career. Rather took much of the public blame for a discredited "60 Minutes" story last fall about President Bush's military service, and he's a distant third in the ratings behind NBC's Brian Williams and Jennings.
He was a target of conservative viewers who accuse the media of bias for more than three decades, since his coverage of the Nixon White House during the Watergate era, and many have exulted in his recent misfortunes.
But he had his supporters, too.
Marian MacNeil of Windsor, Calif., said she watched Rather regularly and admired him. "I feel terrible the way he's being treated now," MacNeil said. "I think they're smearing a good reputation and overshadowing his 50 years. I hope he's able to rise above this."
Meanwhile, a CBS affiliate in northern Michigan that had said it would let its viewers decide whether it should run Wednesday's prime-time CBS tribute to Rather backed off those plans. The station in Cadillac, Mich., said Wednesday its poll had been grossly misinterpreted.
"We were simply trying to maintain the great tradition of local viewer input that is the foundation of our modern day broadcasting system," said William E. Kring, the station's general manager. "It was never our intent to embarrass Mr. Rather or the CBS network."
Both Jennings and Williams planned to pay tribute to Rather on their broadcasts.
What do you expect he will do to further his agenda?
Nice thing for me is that by the time I get my commuting tail home tonight DAN WILL BE GONE! Not that I watch the old Big Media anyway...I won't even have the pleasure of watching his good bye, I'll have missed it...
IT'S ABOUT TIME!
Thank goodness.
I suppose that didn't happen, or we would have heard about it.
Good drama, though.
Bubbaye Dan, your leavin' us is sadder'n a situation like y'all had there in Ohio where them democrats got beat like a rented mule. I'm shakin' jus' like a bowl of fried jello imaginin' you gone
60 minutes for sure. Also now he can be Rather biased.
I missed Bland Slather's last episode. How did it turn out?
Shut down the Alphabet Channels (ABJazerra & Her Sister Stations, AB CB NB CN its all the same propaganda)!
Vote with your Remote! Show them just how much Gravitas Hugh Bris has!!!
It is just a small patriotic act you can do every day, dont support/view/believe, terrorism/aka main stream journalism
He's Got A Plan
Zippo Hero
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes
The CBS affiliate WWTV in Cadillac, Michigan, said it decided to let its viewers vote on whether or not to air Wednesday's prime-time tribute, "Dan Rather: A Reporter Remembers", after being inundated with "negative feedback" about Rather.http://www.ecr.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=480&Itemid=81The station will air something else - it wouldn't say what - if a majority of voters turn thumbs down on Rather.
As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 1 000 people had cast ballots with 63 percent voting against Rather, station spokeswoman Tessia Klix said.
I was curious about that vote. Good on the CBS affiliate, shame on CBS.
From the land of fruits and nuts...
What have you got against Windsor? Though it's located in an overall liberal County -- Sonoma, it's mostly an agricultural area with relatively normal people. You really need to go closer to the Bay to find the real nut jobs.
Ironically enough:
http://apnews.myway.com//article/20050310/D88OBF780.html
Dan Rather draws high ratings in sign-off
"For one last night, Dan Rather was No. 1 in the ratings. CBS was first in the preliminary Nielsen Media Research ratings among the three network evening newscasts on Wednesday, Rather's last day as anchorman.
"(snip)
CBS usually has finished a distant third."
People tuned in just to spit at him one last time! Though he'll still be doing some work for CBS. Cue Dan Hicks and the Hot licks:
"How can I miss you when you won't go away?
I keep tellin' you day after day
But you won't listen, you only stay and stay
how can I miss you when you won't go away?"
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